Cincinnati Public Schools' $1 billion building project will shrink by nearly 8 percent because of declining enrollment.

The school board Monday night approved a scaled-back plan that includes one less new school and reduced capacity for several others.

Instead of building and renovating 66 schools to accommodate 42,165 students as originally planned in May 2002, district officials approved a plan for 65 new and renovated schools accommodating 38,900 students by the project's end in 2012. The district's enrollment is now 38,800.

The new plan rejects a projection by the state that enrollment would drop to 33,000 by the project's end.

"It's very important we plan for our survival - not plan for our death," said schools superintendent Alton Frailey.

Changes include:

 Not building the 450-student Porter Elementary in the West End. The school could be built if enrollment increases.

 Building a new Hays School for 450 students, instead of 550.

 Building a new Washington Park School for 450 students instead of 650.

 Building a new 550-student school that combines Windsor and Douglass schools instead of a 650-student school.

 Renovating Jacobs High School for 550 elementary students instead of 650.